Action Group says Western Freeway is falling apart
Published on 03 August 2022
The poor condition of the Western Freeway was the major subject of a discussion at the latest meeting of the Western Highway Action Committee, held at Ballan recently.
This committee, which has members from the 10 Councils between Melton and the South Australian border along the Western Highway corridor, has played a major role in advocating the need for duplication of the highway over many years.
Committee Chair, Cr Kevin Erwin, said that “it has been so important for duplication to proceed to improve road safety, and increase the efficiency of both freight and people transport. The Western Highway is the third busiest interstate freight route in Australia – and therefore clearly of national level priority”.
“While we applaud the efforts of successive State and Federal governments to contribute to the funding of these vital upgrade works, it is now disappointing, and frankly unsafe, that the roads have deteriorated into their current state of repair”.
Cr Erwin added that “there are long sections of the freeway that are falling apart, and while we are supportive of the efforts of Regional Roads Victoria to maintain this major interstate corridor, there just doesn’t seem to be enough funding to keep it in a safe and suitable condition”.
“There are now long sections of the freeway with major defects, and as a result reduced speed limits, creating frustration and increasing the risk of incidents. This includes a 4.5 km long section near Trawalla, and a further 4.5 km near Ballan towards Ballarat. The section from Ballan towards Bacchus Marsh is also deteriorating”.
“Travelling to our latest meeting at Ballan gave our members the opportunity to witness the poor condition of the freeway first hand, but we also recognise the many thousands of daily travellers on the freeway who suffer from the poor state of the road every day.”
Cr Erwin called on the Government to provide sufficient funds to maintain the road to ensure that this national highway continues to be a safe and efficient transport corridor.
“Unfortunately, this additional maintenance, in some cases on sections of roads that were relatively recently constructed, is taking funds away from priority upgrade works to continue duplication of the highway through to Ararat and Stawell.”